CHAPTER XXV
After Belinda's first astonishment at Paul Genau's timely appearance, she felt only gratitude for his presence.
"Ah, I am so glad you came as you did, Paul," she said, tucking her hand into the crook of his arm.
She felt his arm tremble and knew that Genau had difficulty in speaking calmly.
"What—what did he want of you?"
"Why, I went there to ask——"
"I know what you went for," Paul interrupted. "Begging off that wretched Frenchman. I know that. But what did—did the Herr Lieutenant mean by wanting to escort you—and where?"
"Back to the hospital," said Belinda, answering his last question first. "You Germans seem to be obsessed by a desire to make love to me," she added scornfully.
Paul uttered an oath that made her cringe and drop his arm.
"Why should he try to smearyouwith his filth?" he exploded savagely. "He knows you are my cousin and under my protection.Schweinhund!"
"Hush! Somebody will overhear you, Paul."
"Yes! And then I will 'get mine,' eh? I know it," he snarled. "These officers—these dastardly nobles—demand everything of us—our women, too. I hate them!"
"And yet you fight for them?" she whispered, close to his ear.
"No!Gott!No! I fight for the Fatherland," declared Paul proudly. Then he suddenly drew her arm into his again, saying: "Pardon, Cousin. But keep away from the Herr Lieutenant's quarters. The fool thinks all is fish that swims near his net. When I learned where you had gone I hurried over to escort you. But there was another thing. I went into your ward to have a look at the wounded airman. The Herr Doktor takes an interest in him."
Belinda trembled suddenly, but she could not easily withdraw her arm now.
"Are you cold?" he asked her solicitously.
"I have thought it best to abandon my warm cape," she replied. "It has the French insignia on it."
"Demand a cloak of our quartermaster, Belinda." He swiftly unhooked the chain of his own enveloping cloak and wrapped it about her.
"Ah! How kind, Paul."
"Not so. But I would be kind to you, Belinda," he said quickly and earnestly. "It is for this I would warn you."
"Of what?" she asked.
"Of that flying-man, perhaps."
"Oh!"
"He was asleep when I went into the ward—Herr Lieutenant Gessler, as they call him. So I did not speak to him. But you have a boy across the aisle from the Herr Lieutenant—Ernest Spiegel."
"Yes?"
"Thatis a poison-tongue!" exclaimed Paul angrily. "I do not know whether to believe him or think him altogether a liar."
"What—what does he say?" asked Belinda. "He gives me much trouble. But, poor boy——"
"Waste no sympathy on him," growled Paul. "He is a treacherous little beast. Whether it be true or not——"
"Whether what be true, Paul?" demanded Belinda, unable to smother her impatience, and shaking his arm in the grip of both her hands. "Tell me! Is there something wrong? What has Ernest said to you?"
"That the flying-man talks other languages than German. That he speaks French to that harelipped Erard. That they have long conferences together."
"Why, how ridiculous!" Belinda said, as though relieved. "Of course the Herr Lieutenant speaks French. Does that make him a traitor to the country he flies for?"
"And that he speaks still another language to you," Paul went on doggedly. "That must be English. The boy has never heard it much before."
"Ah!"
"He says more, Cousin Belinda," the young man continued, and she knew he was watching her face keenly as they came under the radiance of the lantern at the gate of the hospital enclosure. "He says he remembers seeing in an old magazine since he has been in this hospital a picture of August Gessler, the flying-man; and that the Herr Lieutenant is a very different looking person from the man that photograph portrayed."
"Why——" Belinda could go no farther, neither in speech nor literally. She leaned so heavily on Paul's arm that he halted. But he did not aid her to recover her self-possession, saying hoarsely:
"The Herr Doktor has ordered me to send a squad to search the vicinity where the two airplanes fell, to recover anything of value belonging to the Herr Lieutenant."
"I know it, Paul!" she gasped. "He told me he would."
"Are you so in the Herr Doktor's confidence?" the young man demanded, both surprised and suspicious.
"He knew me in New York," the girl whispered. "In the hospital there."
"And has said nothing?"
"Hush! No. But he could ruin me—and you, too—with a word."
"Why doesn't he?" her cousin asked sternly.
"Oh, Paul! I seem to be bewitched. They all want to make love to me."
"The Herr Doktor?" he growled. "Herr Gott!"
"He is worse than any of you," she almost sobbed. "He haunted me at the hospital in New York. I wassoglad to escape him when I got through there. And I confess one reason why I came to France was to escape Doctor Herschall's attentions. And here he is!"
"Ah!" said Paul morosely. "And this dog of a flying-man, Gessler. Has he fallen before you, too?"
"Hush, Paul! You make me feel horrid. Can I help it if all of you men are children? The wounded aviator is a gentleman. He does not offend me, at least."
"No?" and he watched her gloomily as they walked on.
Belinda was recovering from her sharper fear. Her brain began to consider this new peril.
"Who will go to search the place where the airmen fell, Paul?" she asked.
"Oh, I shall send a file of men with a corporal."
"Send Carl, Cousin Paul," she said quickly. "Will you—for my sake?"
"Herr Gott!" he muttered. "Then thereissomething wrong with that flying-man?"
"Why should you think there is anything wrong with him?" she retorted.
"You have some interest in him, Cousin Belinda."
"It seems the Herr Doktor has, too," she said significantly. "Send Carl—do. You can trust Carl."
"Ach!Baum is too great a blockhead to be anything but trustworthy," growled Paul, leaving her at the door of the women's sleeping hut.
Belinda crept to her bed that night in such a state of nervous apprehension that she could not hope to sleep. Hourly the surrounding dangers threatening Frank Sanderson and herself came closer. From all sides it seemed their safety was menaced. Whichever way she looked she could see nothing but difficulties.
The most threatening seemed to be the possibility of something abandoned by Sanderson being found at the place where the two airplanes had been burned. Doctor Herschall's preternatural shrewdness would lead him to suspect the truth, she felt sure, if anything was brought to him which he could identify as belonging to the American aviator.
Sanderson's name on his canteen, for instance, if brought to the attention of Doctor Herschall might urge the Prussian to begin an investigation sure to bring disaster to the American aviator. The Red Cross nurse determined to learn early in the morning if Carl Baum was detailed to head the searching party to the grove. If he was, she would find some way of making her cousin aid her in destroying or overlooking anything in the nature of incriminating evidence.
As long as the American aviator could play the part of August Gessler unsuspected there was a chance of his escaping destruction. As soon as his shoulder had knit so that it could be taken out of plaster Sanderson would be up and about. Then, the girl had faith to believe, a way for his escape would be opened.
Lying so long awake during the early hours of the night caused Belinda to oversleep. When, after a hurried toilet, she reached the guardhouse at the gate of the hospital enclosure and asked for her cousin, Baum, she learned that he with a file of privates, had already departed upon some detail.
Belinda was much disturbed and blamed herself heartily for the fault as she went to breakfast. What would happen now?
Erard, looking much subdued, yet with a sly twinkle in his eyes, was sweeping out the entrance to her ward when she reported a little later for duty.
"Well! a pretty figure you cut," she said to him with much sternness. "And you might have gone to a detention camp for your folly had I not pleaded for you."
"Oui, Mademoiselle," he said humbly. "I suppose I should thank you for getting the Herr Lieutenant to send me back to this vile work.Ça y est!All I get is a head like achevaux de boisfor my fun."
Then, softly, and watching her sharply: "Did the Mademoiselle deliver the message from M. Renaud to that braveaviateur?"
"Yes."
"M. Renaud seems very anxious regarding your young man," murmured Erard, but boldly. "He will attempt his rescue—yes!"
"Attempt to rescue Mr. Sanderson?" exclaimed the nurse. "From this hospital?"
"Yes. He asked many questions—all about the situation of this ward, and of the hole in the hedge through which I made my escape," and Erard's sudden grin was all mischief. "TheseBocheswould like to know that."
"He—he would not come here—not really—to help Mr. Sanderson get away?"
"Who knows?" returned Erard. "That Renaud—he is a devil! You do not measure that child in a pint cup," he added, as though he were forced against his will to admire the ex-member of the detective police. "At least, he pumped me dry about the place, even to the situation and number ofMonsieur le Aviateur'scot."
At a moment when she chanced to look forth later from the door of the hut Belinda spied Paul Genau and beckoned to him. He did not smile, nor did he seem so debonair as had been his wont; but he approached at her bidding willingly enough.
"Did Carl go?" she whispered anxiously. "Did you detail him on that errand?"
"As you requested, Cousin Belinda," he said gravely. "And I shall make it a point to see anything they may pick up before it goes to the Herr Doktor," he added significantly.
He startled her. "I—I——Oh, Paul! what shall I say to you?" the girl suddenly cried.
"Say nothing to me!" he interrupted fiercely. "I know there is some mystery—some treachery it may be—regarding this wounded airman that it is my duty to expose. But you—you, Cousin Belinda!—stand between me and my duty."
He gave her no opportunity to reply, leaving her abruptly. The Red Cross nurse was suddenly conscience-stricken. In her selfish desire to save Sanderson and herself from the coil of circumstances in which they were nipped, she had heretofore given no thought at all to the web in which she might entangle her cousins.
She had been determined, if she might, to use them in aiding Frank and herself. But how about Paul Genau and Carl Baum? What would be their punishment if they were discovered assisting in the escape of the American aviator?
"Oh!" she told herself, in self-accusation. "I did not know I could be so wicked—so utterly, utterly selfish! The poor boys! And yet—Frank must escape! And who else is there but Paul and Carl to aid me?"